The Power of the Dictator in Anthem by Ayn Rand

“Anthem” – one of writing authors Ayn Rand, shows her at her most vicious, hungry, and ambitious reading personality not only as a writer, but as a storyteller as well. The classic hit novel “Anthem” is the predecessor to Ayn Rands later books and storytelling works such as “The Fountainhead” and “Atlas Shrugged”, often tackles controversial themes that are still prevalent within modern America today, such as Family & Love. The grandeur novel “Anthem” is a reflection of such topics, all whilst being told with almost an aura of mystery within the novels plotline / storyline. “Anthem’s” take on things such as individuality and self discovery along with universal, self serving terms such as “I” & the word “We” are the key factors in helping differinciate this author Ayn Rand from other authors that write and compse the same genre of literature as Ayn Rand. Anyways, please allow for me to introduce you to the under the surface, deeper themes expressed in the classic debut novel, Ayn Rands “Anthem”

In this paper, I will be talking about the book called Anthem by Ayn Rand. I will be talking about characters such as protagonists and antagonists and how some characters impacted the story. I will talk about the setting, conflicts, and the plot of the story. I will also talk about literary devices such as point of view, symbolism, mood, tone, and theme.

The book, Anthem by Ayn Rand, is a story that is written about a man named Prometheus, or otherwise known as Equality 7-2521, who chooses to be different in a society where everyone was meant to be the same. Throughout most of the book, he has trouble finding the meaning of his life. As he realizes that he can be different, he discovers the power of his own mind so towards the end of the book he turns into a more proud and independent individual. He learns the wrongs of his society, so as a result he rebels against them. Ayn Rand represents the cruelty of collectivism in Anthem by portraying a society that is oppressed by men.

Equality 7-2521 is unable to express creativity, which minimized the number of freedoms and individuality throughout the society. Rand indicates how the pronoun affects Equality 7-2521’s society. “The word "We" is as lime poured over men, which sets and hardens to stone, and crushes all beneath it, and that which is white and that which is black are lost equally in the grey of it” (Rand 97). The pronoun “we,” deteriorates the society from being able to be an individual and from basic freedoms. Equality 7-2521 wasn’t assigned a name, but assigned a label that society forced to abide with. Being assigned a name acts as principal as well as “we.” In addition, individuals have no identity of their own“...we repeat to ourselves whenever we are tempted: “we are one in all and all in one. There are no men but only the great WE, One, indivisible and forever” (Rand 19). Freedoms such as freedom of speech and the right to equal justice, are nonexistent

Ayn Rand's Anthem shows us her view of our world united under what seems to be communist rule. For example their view of right and wrong; which Anthem portrays is a system of very strict rules which mainly make sure that everyone is involved in a collective role within the society in this system no one is considered an individual or that they can even think as an individual.

In today’s society, we tend to imagine what the future will be like. Our imagination leans towards flying cars and being able to read one’s mind. This is not the case in Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem. In Anthem, the society is deprived of technology and the people are ruled by a totalitarian government that controls everyone. The people of the city are told what and how to learn, how to speak and act, and how to live their lives. Equality 7-2521, the main character of the novella, sits in candlelight and tries to gain insight on new things such as electricity and inventions to make life easier. The lives of the citizens aren’t filled with expensive gadgets and trees that plant themselves; it is filled with darkness and oppression. Just beneath the surface of the city’s oppression is the lack of technology. In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, society doesn’t have the chance to expand its knowledge, embrace new ideas, and

brought them for a civilization where the word ?I? did not exist to a world

The future as we imagine it, is to be filled with hi-tech gadgets and gear. Yet we consistently forget about the past and how the past always catches up, where light is gone and equality is a must were no sight of uniqueness is allowed. If that were the case we wouldn’t not be human. “Anthem” by Ayn Rand explains this world where everyone is the same and everyone is told exactly what to do. Equality 7-2521 is the main character of this story and tries to fix this problem. In this story, there is a dystopian protagonist, and a dystopian protagonist is a character that feels trapped and is struggling to escape his/her society. Equality, the dystopian protagonist in “Anthem”, questions the society he lives in by figuring out that being

Anthem represents a collectivist society that is stagnant and primitive where the word “I” is obsolete; talking in first person is a sin. It is always “we” and never “me”. Equality 7-2521, the main character in Anthem, writes in a journal about himself but only uses “we” forms. Writing about yourself is a sin in this society. Equality starts of his first journal entry, the beginning of the book, with this quote; “It is a sin to write this. It is a sin to think words no others think and to put down upon a paper no others are to see,” (1.1). At the end of this book, Equality’s outlook on the sin, whether it is a sin or not, changes. He decides his actions are not a sin. It is him being an individual. His own self.

I know I wouldn't like that at all and most people wouldn't. In Anthem no one has any freedom. They are all told who they get to see, who they get in interact with, where they work, who they have a child with and they never even get to see that child and they don't even know the person they are having a child with because it's illegal to have any contact with the opposite gender and if they do then they get really bad punishments. Also they are told where you are allowed to go and you are usually never aloud to go anywhere unless it's for work. You don't ever get to do things by yourself because it's “selfish” and that's not how their society works plus all of theses people don't even get to see their own faces.(17) This kinda relates to the women that have to wear the things over their face because of their religion but they get to see their face but no one else does unless they are like family or close friends. But someone controlling everything you do in your life would not be fun at

We often think that this world has a lot of cruel rules, but when it comes to Anthem by Ayn Rand, you get to realize that it’s far worse. There are plenty of strict and harsh rules for men in Anthem. To name just a few of them, the Council of Vocations select your job whether you like it or not. Not being able of who you want to have children with. The rules and controls in the book that Equality 7-2521, the narrator, states, should be different and less harsh and cruel.

In order for a man to have a meaning in his life, He must face and overcome many conflicts. Equalities motivation is to be free in his society and to be different from everyone else. He has the right to be motivated because it's the way to express himself and show what he likes. Anthem is a story of a boys struggle to be free and fight the masses of conformity. Equality believes in curiosity and living a free life.

In the world of Anthem, everyone lives a carefree life. All men are equa,l maybe too equal. however conjointly during this collectivist world, the past is unspeakable and therefore the word "I" can't be spoken. There aren't any individuals, only "We" and "They." The members of the World Council of the House of students request to keep men from developing individualistic ideas and identities. Men are solely allowed to meet women once a year, within the “Time of Mating”. Women aren't allowed to ascertain their youngsters, and youngsters ne'er recognize their oldsters. folks aren't even allowed the foremost basic of characteristic gestures: a reputation. Instead, they're given variety they're known by, with words preceding the numbers that echo

The Anthem is a romantic drama written by Ann Ran using an unconventional form of storytelling through suspense, choice of words, and contrasting tones. Early in the story, the reader is confronted by a strange reoccurrence in the text and after reading through a few chapters the true identity of the main character, protagonist, is realized. In the world of the Anthem, people are not allowed to use the pronoun “I’ which creates a unique reading experiences that the reader must unravel. Characters in the Anthem world use “we” to refer to themselves and not the pronoun “I”. In paragraph five, chapter one, the protagonist introduces himself my stating: “Our name is Equality 7-2521, as it is written on the iron bracelet which all men wear on their left wrists with their names upon it.

Dictatorial leaders have multiple reasons for separating children from their parents and family. Some reasons may include if they are taken from their families young they won’t remember their life with their families and won’t try and break the rules to find them. Another reason children may be taken from their families is to make sure that the parents and relatives do not tell them things that the leader does not want them to believe. A final reason that the dictator would take a child from their family is to keep them from becoming more advanced than they want them to. There are many other reasons why dictators may do this which will be explained.